Ophthalmic inspection lens

ABSTRACT

Single piece ophthalmic inspection devices are provided having a continuous 3-dimensional molded surface preferably made out of plastic. The devices are relatively easier and cheaper to manufacture than existing inspection lenses. The smooth continuous edges are advantages to prevent damage to tissue as well to stop foreign objects accumulating in e.g. the clear regions of the lens. Ergonomic features built into the ophthalmic inspection device provide for superior control of the device on the patient&#39;s eye. In addition, textured knurled or grooved surfaces provide desired finger grip and control of the device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/429,414 filed Mar. 25, 2012, which claims benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application 61/465,901 filed Mar. 25, 2011; both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to ophthalmic inspection lenses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ophthalmic inspection lenses are utilized by physicians in conjunctionwith a slit lamp, ophthaloscope or operating microscope to view insidethe eye to inspect, diagnose and treat various eye conditions, such asmacular edema and glaucoma.

There is a range of ophthalmic inspection lenses utilized for viewingspecific regions of the eye. General inspection lenses have a singleoptical element and a range of optical prescription from 15 to 90D andare freely held in front of the cornea without making contact. Forprecise inspection and treatment of specific anatomical regions of theeye specialty lenses are utilized with multiple optical elements, whichare designed to be utilized with an optical surface in contact with theanterior surface of the cornea, such as, capsulotomy, gonio, and retinalenses.

The current art for ophthalmic inspection lenses has at least oneoptical lens and a metal housing, whereby these multiple components areglued or mechanically retained together as a single assembly. Theselenses have a high cost as they require precision optics, precisionmating of parts and a high quality of workmanship in the completeassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides ophthalmic inspection devices. In oneembodiment, the ophthalmic inspection device has a circular lens with acentral optically clear region which distinguishes a concave tissueinterface surface and a convex inspection surface. A tubular cylindricallens handle is concentric with the circular lens and protrudes laterallyfrom the convex inspection surface. An inspection device base isring-shaped and concentric with the circular lens. The inspection devicebase abuts a rim of the concave tissue interface surface. A finger restfeature is disposed between the tubular cylindrical lens handle and theinspection device base. The circular lens, tubular cylindrical lenshandle, finger rest feature and inspection device base are a singlepiece, which is a continuous 3-dimensional molded surface. In apreferred embodiment, the single piece is a single plastic piece.

In one aspect of the first embodiment, the surface of the tubularcylindrical lens handle prevents light reflection through the tubularcylindrical lens handle towards the circular lens or in another aspectthe surface of the tubular cylindrical lens handle has ananti-reflection coating.

In still another aspect of the first embodiment, the surface of theinspection device base prevents light reflection through the inspectiondevice base towards the circular lens or in still another aspect thesurface of the inspection base has an anti-reflection coating.

In still another aspect of the first embodiment, the surface of thefinger rest feature prevents light reflection through the finger restfeature towards the circular lens or in still another aspect the surfaceof the finger rest feature has an antireflection coating.

In still another aspect of the first embodiment, the finger rest featurehas an ergonomic feature for indication of the orientation of theophthalmic inspection device.

In yet another aspect of the first embodiment, the outerside of thetubular cylindrical lens handle has an ergonomic feature for indicationof the orientation of the ophthalmic inspection device.

In a second embodiment, the ophthalmic inspection device has a circularlens with a central optically clear region which distinguishes a convextissue interface surface and a convex inspection surface. The centraloptically clear region has an optical axis through the middle of thecentral optically clear region. A tubular cylindrical lens handle isconcentric with the circular lens and protrudes laterally from theconvex inspection surface and from the convex tissue interface surface.The size of the lens handle at the convex inspection surface is the sameor different from the size of the lens handle at the convex tissueinterface surface. A finger rest feature is disposed as an indentationor protrusion substantially parallel with the optical axis in theouterside of the tubular cylindrical lens handle. The circular lens,tubular cylindrical lens handle, and finger rest feature are a singlepiece. In one aspect the single piece is a continuous 3-dimensionalmolded surface, and in another aspect the single piece is a continuous3-dimensional molded surface except for the finger rest feature. In apreferred embodiment, the single piece is a single plastic piece.

In still another aspect of the second embodiment, the surface of thetubular cylindrical lens handle prevents light reflection through thetubular cylindrical lens handle towards the circular lens or in stillanother aspect the surface of the tubular cylindrical lens handle has ananti-reflection coating.

In still another aspect of the second embodiment, surface of the fingerrest feature prevents light reflection through the finger rest featuretowards the circular lens or in still another aspect the surface of thefinger rest feature has an anti-reflection coating.

In still another aspect of the second embodiment, the finger restfeature has an ergonomic feature for indication of the orientation ofthe ophthalmic inspection device.

In yet another aspect of the second embodiment, the outerside of thetubular cylindrical lens handle has an ergonomic feature for indicationof the orientation of the ophthalmic inspection device.

The embodiments of the ophthalmic inspection device have severaladvantages. For example, the ophthalmic inspection device is a singlepiece injection molded device, which is relatively cheaper and easier toproduce than current manufacturing processes for existing lenses. Thesmooth edges are important to prevent damage to tissue as well to stopforeign objects accumulating in e.g. the clear regions of the lens.Ergonomic features built into the ophthalmic inspection device providefor superior control of the device on the patient's eye. In addition,textured knurled or grooved surfaces provide desired finger grip andcontrol of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-C show an ophthalmic inspection device according to a firstexemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1A shows a cut away view,FIG. 1B shows an oblique top view, and FIG. 1C shows an oblique bottomview.

FIGS. 2A-C show an ophthalmic inspection device according to a secondexemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2A shows a cut away view,FIG. 2B shows an oblique top view, and FIG. 2C shows an oblique bottomview.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments are provided to indirect and direct ophthalmoscopic lensesas used by ophthalmologists and optometrists for diagnosis and treatmentof ocular tissue. FIGS. 1A-C show an ophthalmic inspection device with acircular lens 110. The lens 110 has a central optically clear region 112with a concave tissue interface surface 114 and a convex inspectionsurface 116. The ophthalmic inspection device further has a tubularcylindrical lens handle 120, which is concentric with the circular lens110 and protrudes laterally from the convex inspection surface 116. Theophthalmic inspection device further has an inspection device base 130,which is ring-shaped and concentric with the circular lens 110. Theinspection device base 130 abuts a rim of the concave tissue interfacesurface 114. The ophthalmic inspection device further has a finger restfeature 140, which is disposed between the tubular cylindrical lenshandle 120 and the inspection device base 130.

The circular lens 110, the tubular cylindrical lens handle 120, thefinger rest feature 140 and the inspection device base 130 are a singlepiece, which is a continuous (smooth) 3-dimensional molded surface. In apreferred embodiment, the single piece ophthalmic inspection device ismade out of plastic.

In one embodiment, the surface of the tubular cylindrical lens handleprevents light reflection through the tubular cylindrical lens handletowards the circular lens. In another embodiment, the surface of thetubular cylindrical lens handle has an anti-reflection coating.Similarly, the surface of the inspection device base prevents lightreflection through the inspection device base towards the circular lensor the surface of the inspection base has an anti-reflection coating.Similarly, the surface of the finger rest feature prevents lightreflection through the finger rest feature towards the circular lens orsaid surface of the finger rest feature has an anti-reflection coating.In one embodiment, the anti-reflection features (whether it is frosting,grooves, knurles, coating, or the like) are created as part of thesingle piece molding process of the ophthalmic inspection device. Inanother embodiment, these features are created after the single piecemolding process of the ophthalmic inspection device.

In one embodiment, the finger rest feature has an ergonomic feature fortactile indication of the orientation of the ophthalmic inspectiondevice to a user. In another embodiment, the outerside of the tubularcylindrical lens handle has an ergonomic feature for tactile indicationof the orientation of the ophthalmic inspection device to a user.

The embodiment in FIG. 1 can be molded with 2-piece mold. One-piecemolding the top section of the lens and other-piece molding the lowersection lens with parting line at the finger rest feature, morespecifically at its widest diameter. High quality optical surfaces areachieved with the appropriate care to mold quality polished surfacefinish, fill rate, pressure and molding time. Frosted textured surfacescould be achieved with the corresponding textured finish on regions ofthe mold. On the tubular cylindrical lens handle there could be anappropriate draft of a few degrees maintained orthogonal to the moldparting line. The linear knurled features could be achieved with 3Dgrooved lines on this drafted region, these 3D grooves are in a regularrepeating pattern around the cylindrical lens handle, and could also beorthogonal to the parting line of the mold allowing efficient demolding,i.e., removal of the part from the mold.

Referring again to FIGS. 1A-C, the outer surfaces of ophthalmic lens 110in a region from the finger rest shelf 140 to the ring-shaped base 130may have a frosted texture directly from the mold to prevent reflectioninto the central optically clear region 112 from these surfaces forinternal light, and to prevent coherent images from external lightsources.

FIGS. 2A-C show an ophthalmic inspection device with a circular lens210. The lens 210 has a central optically clear region 212 with a convextissue interface surface 214 and a convex inspection surface 216. Thecentral optically clear region has an optical axis 218 through themiddle of the central optically clear region 212. The ophthalmicinspection device further has a tubular cylindrical lens handle 220,which is concentric with the circular lens 210 and protrudes laterallyfrom the convex inspection surface 216 and from the convex tissueinterface surface 214. The size of the lens handle at the convexinspection surface (indicated by 222) could be the same or could bedifferent from the size of the lens handle at the convex tissueinterface surface (indicated by 224). The ophthalmic inspection devicefurther has a finger rest feature 230, which is disposed as anindentation (shown) or protrusion (not shown) substantially parallelwith the optical axis 218 in the outerside of the tubular cylindricallens handle 220.

The circular lens 210, the tubular cylindrical lens handle 220, and thefinger rest feature 230 are a single piece, which is a continuous(smooth) 3-dimensional molded surface (i.e. the edges of the finger restfeature are all smooth and continuous, not shown). In other embodiment,the circular lens 210, the tubular cylindrical lens handle 220, and thefinger rest feature 230 are a single piece, which is a continuous(smooth) 3-dimensional molded surface except for the edges of the fingerrest feature 230. In a preferred embodiment, the single piece ophthalmicinspection device is made out of plastic.

In one embodiment, the surface of the tubular cylindrical lens handleprevents light reflection through the tubular cylindrical lens handletowards the circular lens. In another embodiment, the surface of thetubular cylindrical lens handle has an anti-reflection coating.Similarly, the surface of the finger rest feature prevents lightreflection through the finger rest feature towards the circular lens orsaid surface of the finger rest feature has an anti-reflection coating.In one embodiment, the anti-reflection features (whether it is frosting,grooves, knurles, coating, or the like) are created as part of thesingle piece molding process of the ophthalmic inspection device. Inanother embodiment, these features are created after the single piecemolding process of the ophthalmic inspection device.

In one embodiment, the finger rest feature has an ergonomic feature fortactile indication of the orientation of the ophthalmic inspectiondevice to a user. In another embodiment, the outerside of the tubularcylindrical lens handle has an ergonomic feature for tactile indicationof the orientation of the ophthalmic inspection device to a user.

The embodiment in FIG. 2 can be molded with 2-piece mold with 3 (ormore) additional side action pieces. One-piece molding the top sectionof the lens and other-piece molding the lower section lens with partingline at the finger rest feature. In this embodiment there is minimal orno draft on the cylindrical lens handle, and there is an indentation forthe finger rest feature, therefore side action pieces are required inthe mold. As we want to create a knurled pattern around thecircumference of the cylindrical lens handle, 3 (or more side) actionpiece are required in the mold to apply the appropriate degree of shapeto the 3D features in the knurl pattern during molding. Once the moldedlens has formed, the side action pieces move outward in a radialfashion, so as not to interfere with the molded part and its knurledfeatures. The region of the finger rest also could incorporate animpression of text, allowing product and company branding on this lensproduct.

Variations

The ophthalmic inspection devices can be varied such that the radius intissue contact (e.g. the cornea) has a radius in the range of 7.5-10 mm,more nominally 8.5 mm, or slightly larger than the nominal radius ofcurvature so the cornea is not distorted. The outerside of theophthalmic inspection device can be used to indicate lens or brandinformation and could also come directly from the single injection moldprocess. Another variation could pertain to the addition of a suction tothe cornea outside the region of the central optically clear region. Forexample, channels could go through the tubular cylindrical lens handle(not shown) and be used as vacuum suction channels. In another variationone could use for example 1 or 2 (non)-diffractive optical elementsand/or protective windows mounted in a housing in between the tubularcylindrical lens handle above the inspection surface (not shown). Thediffractive optical elements should be designed such that they minimizeachromatic aberrations and (optionally) have antireflective coatings inthe visible region of the spectrum.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ophthalmic inspection lens comprising: acircular central optically clear region having a tissue interfacesurface and an inspection surface; a tubular cylindrical handleconcentric with the optically clear region and protruding laterally fromthe inspection surface; a ring-shaped base concentric with the opticallyclear region and abutting a rim of the concave tissue interface surface;and a finger rest feature disposed on the tubular cylindrical handle;wherein the tissue interface surface, the inspection surface, thesurface of the tubular cylindrical handle, the surface of the fingerrest feature, and the surface of the inspection device base are portionsof a continuous 3-dimensional surface of a single plastic piece; andwherein outer surfaces of the lens in a region from the finger restfeature to the ring-shaped base comprise a frosted texture preventinginternal reflection of light from those surfaces into the centraloptically clear region.
 2. The ophthalmic inspection lens of claim 1,wherein the frosted texture prevents transmission of images fromexternal light sources through those surfaces into the optically clearregion.
 3. The ophthalmic inspection lens of claim 1, wherein the tissueinterface surface is concave.
 4. The ophthalmic inspection lens of claim1, wherein the tissue interface surface is convex.
 5. The ophthalmicinspection lens of claim 1, wherein the inspection surface is convex. 6.The ophthalmic inspection lens of claim 1, wherein the tubularcylindrical handle extends parallel to an optical axis of the lensbeyond the convex inspection surface.
 7. The ophthalmic inspection lensof claim 1, wherein the finger rest feature comprises a shelf protrudinglaterally from the tubular cylindrical handle.
 8. The ophthalmicinspection lens of claim 1, wherein the finger rest feature comprises anindentation in an outer side of the tubular cylindrical handle.
 9. Theophthalmic inspection lens of claim 1, wherein outer surfaces of thetubular cylindrical handle are molded with a texture improving fingergrip.
 10. The ophthalmic inspection lens of claim 9, wherein the moldedtexture of the outer surfaces of the tubular cylindrical handlecomprises a repeating pattern of molded grooves running orthogonally toa mold parting line on the inspection lens.
 11. The ophthalmicinspection lens of claim 1, comprising a mold parting line located at awidest diameter of the finger rest feature.
 12. The ophthalmicinspection lens of claim 1, wherein the finger rest feature comprises anindication of the orientation of the ophthalmic inspection lens.
 13. Theophthalmic inspection lens of claim 1, wherein the outer side of thetubular cylindrical lens handle comprises an indication of theorientation of the ophthalmic inspection lens.
 14. The ophthalmicinspection lens of claim 1, wherein: the tubular cylindrical handleextends parallel to an optical axis of the lens beyond the convexinspection surface; and the finger rest feature comprises a shelfprotruding laterally from the tubular cylindrical handle.
 15. Theophthalmic inspection lens of claim 14, wherein the frosted textureprevents transmission of images from external light sources throughthose surfaces into the optically clear region.
 16. The ophthalmicinspection lens of claim 15, wherein the tissue interface surface isconcave and the inspection surface is convex.
 17. The ophthalmicinspection lens of claim 1, wherein: the tubular cylindrical handleextends parallel to an optical axis of the lens beyond the convexinspection surface; and the finger rest feature comprises an indentationin an outer side of the tubular cylindrical handle.
 18. The ophthalmicinspection lens of claim 17, wherein the frosted texture preventstransmission of images from external light sources through thosesurfaces into the optically clear region.
 19. The ophthalmic inspectionlens of claim 18, wherein the tissue interface surface is convex and theinspection surface is convex.
 20. The ophthalmic inspection lens ofclaim 1, wherein the tubular cylindrical handle concentric with theoptically clear region and protruding laterally from the inspectionsurface extends beyond the inspection surface away from the tissueinterface surface.